For women looking to rise in the world of media and political commentary, things are essential these days – inflammatory opinions, and stunning good looks. Tomi Lahren definitely checks both boxes, so her ascent isn’t exactly surprising. She’s been steadily rising up the conservative media food chain for some time.
As of 2023, Tomi Lahren has an estimated net worth of $3 million. Her rags to riches story does contain some interesting twists, though, so let’s trace her path and examine some of her moves made along the way.
Early Days
Lahren was born in Rapid City, South Dakota in 1992, and went on to attend UNLV. She earned a degree in broadcast journalism with a focus on political science, so she had a clear idea of what her path might be early on.
She interned for right-wing South Dakota Congresswoman Kristi Noem, but Lahren was drawn by the possibility of doing commentary.
The Broadcast Move
Her opportunity came quickly. She went looking for an internship on One America New Network, the right-wing news organization, but instead was instantly offered her own show, which was called “On Point” when it debuted in 2014.
But Lahren was clearly destined for bigger and better things in the conservative commentary world, and her commentary earned her an opportunity on a Texas show called “The Blaze.” Her rapid-fire comments during the closing segment, which were called “Final Thoughts,” drew the attention of the ladies at “The View,” where Lahren made a controversial appearance.
Breaking with the conservative party line, Lahren said every woman deserves access to abortion services, a statement that now seems inflammatory given the recent controversy surrounding the repeal of Roe vs. Wade.
Her statement also enraged her boss, conservative kingpin Glenn Beck, who is vehemently anti-abortion. Beck suspended her with pay, and Lahren filed a wrongful termination suit that led to a settlement in which her videos from “The Blaze” were removed from her Facebook page.
Not to worry. Nothing ever disappears in the digital world, really, and Lahren’s dustup with Beck eventually got her a job as a contributor at Fox News, where she earns a $500,000 annual salary.
The New Ann Coulter?
In some ways, Lahren’s career is reminiscent of that of Ann Coulter. Her opinions don’t always hew to the conservative party line. Some have described her as a provocateur, a description that would probably make the likes of Coulter smile.
She’s also a bit of a wild card when it comes to her ability to say things that offend just about everyone at some level, which is part of why she continues to draw interest as a commentator.
Private Life
Lahren is an avid runner, and it wouldn’t be inaccurate to say she has a thing for jocks. She’s done the dating merry-go-round with soccer player Brandon Fricke, and she was linked with former NFL quarterback Jay Cutler in 2020. Eventually, she married J.P. Arencibia, a former major league catcher. They tied the knot in October 2022.
